Vacuum steam-heating system.



N9. 708,l0l. Patentd'Sept. 2, I902.

' J. n. WADE.

VACUUM STEAM HEATING SYSTEM.

(Application filed. Jan. 13, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. WADE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VACUUM STEAM-HEATING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 708,101, dated September2, 1902.

Application filed Jannary 13, 1902. Serial No. 891 (N0 mildew To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. W DE, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Vacuum Steam- Heating Systems, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in steam-heating systems; andit consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fullyset forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,,Figure l is a general elevation of my system, certainparts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detailshowing highest position of the sink-pot or float employed in my system.Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the lowest position of the float,and Fig- 4 is an elevation of a modified form of the means employed fordraining the condenser.

The present invention relates to that class of heating systems in which"exhaust or low-- pressure steam is employed to circulate throughradiators (vacuum-pans, pipes,stills, and the like) and their systems ofconnecting-pipes, one object of the present invention being to exhaustthe air contained in the radiators in order to create the'necessaryrarefaction or vacuum therein for the free circulation of suchlow-pressure steam. Like in my United States Patent No. 659,776, grantedOctober 16, 1900, the present system creates a partial vacuum by meansof cold water injected into a condenser into which the circulating steamrushes, Where it is subsequently condensed and whence it is withdrawn byeither a pump or injector, as presently will more fully appear. Thepresent system, however, has the advantage over the patented onereferred to in that it restores the condensed water back to the boilerat the highest available temperature, effecting thereby a maximumeconomy and saving of fuel without the aid of complicated mechanicaldevices. The present apparatus, too, is characterized by simplicity ofconstruction, durability, and cheapness. It is reliable and thoroughlyeffective. In detail the invention may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, R represents a radiator whose vacuum ordischarge pipe 1 communicates with a condenser orvacuumtank 2. Thelatter is surmounted by a trap 3, Well known and in common use, thecapplate 4 thereof having depending centrally therefrom a guide-tube 5,serving as a guide for the upwardly-projecting hollow stem 6 of a float(sink-pot) 7 confined in the trap, the expanded base of the stem beingopen to allow for the discharge of the contents of the float undercircumstances presently to appear. Passed throughthe cap-plate andentering into the float is a water-supply pipe 8, leading from anysource of supply, (not shown,) the flow through said pipe beingregulated by the screw valve 9, ofordinary construction. Normallythe pot7 is kept floated, Fig. 2, on the water initially supplied'to the trap,the bottom of the pot in such position closing the adjacent inner endofa discharge-tube 10, which enters the trap through the guide-tube AsWater is allowed to flow into the pot through the pipe 8 the poteventually sinks, Fig. 3, therebyopening the inner end of thedischarge-tube 10, (access of the water to such tube being had throughthe open base of the stem v6.) Leading from the capplate 4is asteam-pipe ll, conveying from any source (not shownlsteam at a suitablepressure, which forces the contents ofthe pot, Fig. 3, into and throughthe discharge-tube 10, the exhaustion of said contents again allowingthe pot to float and close up the open end of the said discharge-tube.The latter bends around and penetrates the condenser, terminatingtherein in the shape of a spraynozzle 12, the water thus periodicallysprayed in the condenser condensing the low-pressure steam enteringtherein from the radiator B through the pipe 1, the condensed vaporswithin the condenser inducing the proper flow of steam and airthroughout the system and its connecting-pipes. The pressure of thesteam by which the discharge of the contents of the pot under thecircumstances related is accomplished may be controlled by aregulating-valve 13 or in any other way. The vacuum-pipe 1 is providedwith a checkvalve 14 to prevent back pressure from the condenser underunforeseen circumstances.

The action of the pot 7 may be made as frequent as circumstances maydemand by varying the rapidity of the flow of the cold water past thescrew-valve 9, it being understood, of course, that such flow is at alltimes sufficiently rapid to prevent any undue heating of the water inthe trap by the steam issuing from the steam-pipe 11, though in practicethe water forced from the pot with each successive sinking thereof issufficiently cold to effect the condensation of the vapors in thecondenser 2 by reason of the pipe 8 delivering its supply to the bottomof the pot, where the bulk of the water so supplied is out of contactwith the steam above the pot. The initial supply of water in the trapwhich is designed to float the pot when empty may be furnished byletting in an excess through the water-supply pipe 8, causing anoverflow from the pot and before any steam is admitted through the pipe11 to effect a discharge of the contents of the pot. The float-Water issubsequently kept practically constant by more or less condensation ofthe steam used as the driving medium for the contents of the pot whensunk.

To supplement the vacuum produced in the condenser 2, as above setforth, I connect the bottom of the condenser with eithera pump P, Fig.1, or a steam-injector I, Fig. 4, either of which in addition to pumpingout the waters accumulating at the bottom of the condenser serves aspositive means of eduction of the gases, vapors, and air within thecondenser, so that there is at all times a positive and constant drafton the contents of the system, and hence any desirable velocity ofcirculation within said system and its pipes maybe attained. Ido not, ofcourse, wish to be limited to the precise details here shown, as theymay in a measure be departed from without affecting the nature or spiritof my invention. The injector I serves to return the waters direct tothe boiler, as seen by the arrows in Fig. 4, the arrrows indicating,respectively, the paths which the steam-jet and waters take in beingconducted back to such boiler. (Not shown.)

Ilaving described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a heating system,a tank or condenser having connection with a steam-circulating system, atrap disconnected from the system having a water-discharge tube leadinginto said condenser, a pipe for conducting cold water into said trap, apipe for conveying fluid under pressure thereinto for effecting asubsequent discharge of the water therefrom into the condenser throughthe water-discharge tube, and means for withdrawing the water, vapor andgases accumulated in said condenser substantially as set forth.

2. In a heating system, a tank or condenser having connection with asteam-circulating system, a trap disconnected from the system having awater-discharge tube leading into the condenser, a float or pot normallyclosing the inner end of said discharge-tube, a waterfeed pipedelivering into the pot, a steampipe leading to the trap at a pointabove the surface of the water contained therein, suitablecontrolling-valves in said pipes, and mechanism for pumping out thecontents of the condenser, the parts operating substantially as, and forthe purpose set forth.

3. In a heating system, a tank or condenser having connection with asteam-circulating system, a trap disconnected from and independent ofsaid circulating system, having a water-discharge tube leading into saidcondenser, a pipe for conducting cold water into said trap, a pipe forconveying fluid under pressure thereinto for effecting a subsequentdischarge of the water therefrom into the condenser through saidwater-discharge tube, and means for positively withdrawing the contentsof the condenser, substantially as set forth.

4. A heating system comprising a tank or condenser having connectionwith a low-pressure steam-circulatingsystem,a trap mounted on top of thetank, a float in said trap, a waterfeedpipe leading into the trap anddischarging into said float, a guide-tube depending from the top of thetrap, a hollow open stem carried by the float and loosely embracing theguide-tube, a water-discharge tube having one end inserted through theguide-tube and normally closed by the float, the said discharge-tubepenetrating the walls of the condenser and discharging thereinto, asteampipe communicating with the interior of the trap above the level ofthe water therein, suitable valves in the pipes, and mechanism adaptedto remove the waters, air and gases accumulating in the condenser, theparts operating substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a heating system, a tank or condenser having connection with asteam-circulating system, a trap disconnected from the system having awater-discharge tube leading into said condenser, a pipe for conductingcold water into said trap, a pipe for conveying fluid under pressurethereinto for effecting a subsequent discharge of the water therefrominto the condenser through the water-discharge tube, and means forwithdrawing the water, accumulated in said condenser and returning thesame to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES R. WADE.

W'itnesses:

NELLIE ARKEBAUER, EMIL STAREK.

